Psalm 84 J.H.
Words: Sternhold and Hopkins, The Whole Book of Psalms Collected into English Metre
1 How pleasant is thy dwelling-place,
O Lord of hosts, to me!
The tabernacles of thy grace,
how pleasant, Lord, they be!
2 My soul doth long full sore to go
into thy courts abroad,
My heart and flesh cry out also
for thee the living God.
3 The sparrows find a room to rest,
and save themselves from wrong,
The swallow also hath a nest
wherein to keep her young:
4 These birds full nigh thy altar may
have place to sit and sing;
O Lord of hosts, thou art alway
my only God and King.
5 O, they be bless-ed that may dwell
within thy house always!
For they all times thy facts do tell,
and ever give thee praise:
6 Yea, happy sure likewise are they
whose stay and strength thou art,
Who to thy house do mind the way
And seek it in their heart.
7 As they go through the vale of tears,
they dig up fountains still;
That as a spring it all appears,
and thou their pits dost fill.
8 From strength to strength they go full fast,
no faintness there shall be;
And so the God of gods at last
in Zion they do see.
9 O Lord of hosts, to me give heed,
and hearken to my cry,
And let it through thine ears proceed,
O Jacob's God' most high.
10 O God our shield, of thy good grace
regard, and so draw near;
Regard, O Lord, behold the face
of thine Anointed dear.
11 For why? within thy courts one day
is better to abide,
Than other where to keep or stay
a thousand days beside.
12 Much rather had I keep a door
within the house of God,
Than in the tents of wickedness
to settle my abode.
13 For God the Lord, light and defense,
will grace and worship give.,
And no good thing will he withhold
from them that purely live.
14 O Lord of hosts, that man is blest,
and happy sure is he,
That is persuaded in his breast
to trust all times in thee.
